Superstructure for the Lifting of Panes in Display Units

ABSTRACT

The present superstructure involves, for each upright, a spacer section bar ( 3 ), a hinge-bearing section bar ( 6 ), a hinge ( 8 ), a piston ( 13 ) that helps to lift the pane ( 1 ), and is completed by a gripper ( 9 ) for supporting the pane ( 1 ), a closing section bar ( 11 ) and a gasket; the section bar ( 3 ) has a box section so that it can be adjusted to be joined together with the section bar ( 6 ); each hinge ( 8 ) is fixed to the section bar ( 6 ) and at its end to be fixed to the gripper ( 9 ), bears conical guides ( 8.1 ) suitable for fitting the conical arms ( 9.1 ) situated on the gripper ( 9 ) itself; a gasket ( 12 ) is fixed to the gripper ( 9 ); where spherical panes ( 1 ) are involved, hinges ( 15 ) are used containing a body ( 15.1 ) and a connecting piece ( 15.2 ) that can be rotated with respects to the body ( 15.1 ) so that the panes ( 1 ) can be fitted on at different lengths of the circular arc.

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The system in question is used particularly in the refrigerated display unit sector, but can also be used for heated and ambient units, as well as for displays of any kind of goods, ranging from jewellery to clothes, to telephones, and so on.

STATE OF THE ART

Display units for the sale of foodstuffs and non-foodstuffs always contain panes made of glass or plastic material. Their function is that of isolating products from the surrounding environment and/or ensuring customers do not remove those products. The panes are attached in a manner of ways either to a frame above them, which is supported by uprights, or to a frame below them, which is in turn fixed to the display unit.

A number of opening systems are known to make use of an overhanging support frame. The production costs of such systems are often high owing to customers' needs, both aesthetic and functional, that can involve front or back frames and a varying opening angle of the pane installed. Given that the hinges used today have a fixed structure and therefore each one is suited to a pane with a particular opening angle, and that the uprights can either be in front or behind, it is immediately clear that a variety of different elements must be used and thus the production cost that ensues will be high.

Another problem that is particularly common is also that of keeping insects and dust out, especially outside of business hours. Certain opening systems are known that contain at least one gasket, which bridges the gap between the gripper that supports the pane, and the closing section bar. However, that gasket is fixed to the closing section bar itself, and the panes are not always completely tight to each other—consequently, the gripper meant for supporting the pane, used in a number of different display units containing panes that also differ, does not always end its course in the same point. Therefore, the gasket cannot guarantee air tightness in every case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide users with a superstructure for the movement of panes that offers a solution to the problems highlighted above.

That aim, amongst others, is achieved by the opening system in question, as is described more in detail in the first claim below, wherein each upright contains a section bar that acts as a spacer, a hinge-bearing section bar, at least one hinge and at least one piston that helps to lift the pane. A gripper suitable for supporting the pane, a closing section bar and a gasket complete the superstructure.

The section bar that acts as a spacer bears fins, which bound a bottom and a top guide. The latter fits a guide projection from the hinge-bearing section bar, which is fixed to the spacer section bar by inserting screws into slots.

Each hinge is fixed to the hinge-bearing section bar and bears conical guides on the end that fixes to the gripper, into which the conical arms on the end of the gripper itself will fit. The hinge also bears a groove on its arm that points towards the closing section bar, which fits one end of the plastic gasket, while the other end runs along the closing section bar.

When spherical panes are used, special hinges are involved. Each hinge bears a body with a base fixed to it, upon which the base of the gripper sits.

The present superstructure is extremely flexible, in that it can be installed with both back and front uprights without affecting the mechanics of the rotation motion and particularly while maintaining the same frame. This characteristic is very important in that it means customers are offered two very effective possibilities, that differ in their appearance and their cost (normally the price is actually higher when back uprights are used).

The special hinge used for spherical panes, bearing a base upon which the gripper is fixed, can vary in shape and size, thus allowing for the use of spherical panes with different opening angles.

Another advantage of this superstructure is the presence of the plastic gasket fixed onto the gripper. The gasket, as it is mobile along with the gripper, does not have a fixed point of arrival; thus it can be either tight fitting or not when the pane is closed. Consequently the gasket provides air tightness, preventing insects, dirt, and coins placed on the change counter from entering the display unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages will become better apparent from the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a superstructure, according to invention, illustrated only by way of a non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a section of the present superstructure attached to a side front upright of a display unit;

FIG. 2 illustrates the same section of the superstructure as FIG. 1 with the curved pane lifted;

FIG. 3 depicts a section of the present superstructure attached to a side back upright of a display unit;

FIG. 4 illustrates the same section of the superstructure as FIG. 3 with the pane even more lifted;

FIGS. 5 and 6 depict front views of two superstructures using, respectively, a central upright and a side upright;

FIG. 7 illustrates, in more detail, a cross section of the hinge-bearing section bar;

FIG. 8 illustrates, in more detail, a cross section of the spacer section bar;

FIG. 9 depicts, in more detail, a section of the superstructure;

FIG. 10 depicts, in more detail, a cross section of the gripper;

FIG. 11 depicts, in more detail, a view of one end of the hinge;

FIG. 12 depicts a blow up of a prospective view of the hinge for curved panes;

FIG. 13 depicts a top view of the hinge for curved panes;

FIG. 14 depicts a top view of the connecting piece for the hinge for curved panes;

FIG. 15 depicts a top view of the hinge, showing the possibility for manoeuvre of the connecting piece;

FIGS. 16 and 17 depict a top view of two curved panes with different opening angles, and fixed to the present superstructure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following example of embodiment the present superstructure is used on a display unit with a glass pane I placed on the customer side.

The upright 2 is fixed to a spacer section bar 3 by means of pin-screw cluster where the pin 4 is inserted into a hole on the front upright 2 and the screws 5, having passed through the lower wall of the section bar 3, fit into the pin 4.

The spacer section bar 3, which has a box section, bears fins 3.1 on its lower side that lie parallel to the longitudinal axis of the section bar 3 and bound a bottom guide 3.2. The top end of the upright 2 slides into this guide. The section bar 3 bears fins 3.3 on its top side that lie parallel to the longitudinal axis of the section bar 3 and bound a top guide 3.4. The lower fins 3.1 are either present on is both sides of the section bar 3 (see FIG. 5), or only along one side (see FIG. 6). In the first case, the section bar 3 is used for central uprights, and in the second, for side uprights, either on the left or on the right depending on which side the fin 3.1 lies. The lower guide 3.2 prevents the section bar 3 from rotating on the upright 2 and ensures the parts are correctly aligned.

The hinge-bearing section bar 6 is fixed above the section bar 3 by means of screws 7. The hinge-bearing section bar 6 bears a guide projection 6.1 on its lower side that fits into the top guide 3.4 of the spacer section bar 3. The top guide 3.4 guides the translation of the hinge-bearing section bar 6 with respects to the section bar 3, ensuring the two are correctly joined together. The two section bars 3 and 6 can thus be very precisely adjusted and the grippers 9 can be correctly aligned at sight. To allow for the precise adjustment of the section bars 3 and 6, screws 7 are inserted not into holes but into through slots situated in the area where the two section bars 3 and 6 join and fasten together.

The hinge 8, which is approximately semicircular, is hinged onto the section bar 6 by means of a pin 8.1. The gripper 9 is fixed to the hinge 8. The former, at its end that fixes onto the hinge 8, bears conical arms 9.1 that run parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gripper 9. The arms 9.1 will slide into conical guides 8.1 contained in the end of the hinge 8. The joining of the gripper 9 and the hinge 8 is adjusted by the force exerted by grains 10 that, thanks to the conical shape of the arms 9.1 and guides 8.1, work both vertically and laterally. This joining ensures that the parts are safely fastened, and, if need be, that one can slide the gripper 9, once the grains 10 have been loosened, to better position both the gripper 9 and the pane I that is fixed to it within the space available.

The gripper 9 also bears a groove 9.2, which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis 10 of the gripper 9 itself, situated on its arm that points towards the closing section bar 11. The end of a plastic gasket 12 fits into that groove 9.2. The gasket 12 bridges the gap between the gripper 9 and the closing section bar 11. The latter is fixed to the hinge-bearing section bar 6 and lies facing the gripper 9 when the pane 1 is closed.

One end of the piston 13 that helps lift the pane I is fixed to the hinge 8. The other end of the piston 13 is fixed onto the front upright 2 by means of a bracket 14 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). When using a back upright 2 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), the second end of the piston 13 is, however, attached directly to the back upright 2.

Where a spherical pane 1 is involved, hinges 15 (see FIGS. 12-17) are used; each hinge bears a body 15.1 and a connecting piece 15.2. The body 15.1 is approximately semicircular and bears an insert 15.3 into which the base of the connecting piece 15.2 fits. The connecting piece 15.2 is fixed to the body 15.1 by means of screws that fit into holes 15.4 and 15.5. The connecting piece 15.2 is composed of a plate; by means of screws, a crop of section bar containing the conical guides 15.6 that fit the conical arms 9.1 situated on the gripper 9, is fixed onto this plate. The body 15.1 Is hinged to an adapting piece 15.7 by means of a pin 15.8 that passes through a hole 15.9. The adapting piece 15.7 is in turn fixed to the section bar 6.

Unlike the hinges 8 described above, the longitudinal axis of the conical guides in these hinges 15 is not orthogonal but is instead incident to the longitudinal axis of the hinge itself. The base of the connecting piece 15.2, thanks to minor adjustments, can be rotated with respects to the body 15.1. This means that those same hinges 15 may be used for different opening angles of panes 1 without interfering with the hinge-bearing section bar 6. For example, the panes 1 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 have very different opening angles (the angle is more than halved when passing from FIG. 16 to FIG. 17). However, while these panes 1 share the same length of the circular arc, are fixed to the present superstructure using those same hinges 15, and by rotating the connecting elements 15.2 ever so slightly with respects to their respective bodies 15.1, one can obtain different opening angles for the panes 1, as illustrated in FIG. 15. For variations in length of the pane's circular arc that are above 5%, the body 15.1 must instead be replaced with another body containing an insert 15.3 of a different shape.

Superstructure for the lifting of panes in display units.

Field of Application

The system in question is used particularly in the refrigerated display unit sector, but can also be used for heated and ambient units, as well as for displays of any kind of goods, ranging from jewellery to clothes, to telephones, and so on.

State of the Art

Display units for the sale of foodstuffs and non-foodstuffs always contain panes made of glass or plastic material. Their function is that of isolating products from the surrounding environment and/or ensuring customers do not remove those products. The panes are attached in a manner of ways either to a frame above them, which is supported by uprights, or to a frame below them, which is in turn fixed to the display unit.

A number of opening systems are known to make use of an overhanging support frame. The production costs of such systems are often high owing to customers' needs, both aesthetic and functional, that can involve front or back frames and a varying opening angle of the pane installed. Given that the hinges used today have a fixed structure and therefore each one is suited to a pane with a particular opening angle, and that the uprights can either be in front or behind, it is immediately clear that a variety of different elements must be used and thus the production cost that ensues will be high.

Another problem that is particularly common is also that of keeping insects and dust out, especially outside of business hours. Certain opening systems are known that contain at least one gasket, which bridges the gap between the gripper that supports the pane, and the closing section bar. However, that gasket is fixed to the closing section bar itself, and the panes are not always completely tight to each other - consequently, the gripper meant for supporting the pane, used in a number of different display units containing panes that also differ, does not always end its course in the same point. Therefore, the gasket cannot guarantee air tightness in every case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide users with a superstructure for the movement of panes that offers a solution to the problems highlighted above. That aim, amongst others, is achieved by the opening system in question, as is described more in detail in the first claim below, wherein each upright contains a section bar that acts as a spacer, a hinge-bearing section bar, at least one hinge and at least one piston that helps to lift the pane. A gripper suitable for supporting the pane, a closing section bar and a gasket complete the superstructure.

The section bar that acts as a spacer bears fins, which bound a bottom and a top guide. The latter fits a guide projection from the hinge-bearing section bar, which is fixed to the spacer section bar by inserting screws into slots.

Each hinge is fixed to the hinge-bearing section bar and bears conical guides on the end that fixes to the gripper, into which the conical arms on the end of the gripper itself will fit. The hinge also bears a groove on its arm that points towards the closing section bar, which fits one end of the plastic gasket, while the other end runs along the closing section bar.

When spherical panes are used, special hinges are involved. Each hinge bears a body with a base fixed to it, upon which the base of the gripper sits.

The present superstructure is extremely flexible, in that it can be installed with both back and front uprights without affecting the mechanics of the rotation motion and particularly while maintaining the same frame. This characteristic is very important in that it means customers are offered two very effective possibilities, that differ in their appearance and their cost (normally the price is actually higher when back uprights are used).

The special hinge used for spherical panes, bearing a base upon which the gripper is fixed, can vary in shape and size, thus allowing for the use of spherical panes with different opening angles.

Another advantage of this superstructure is the presence of the plastic gasket fixed onto the gripper. The gasket, as it is mobile along with the gripper, does not have a fixed point of arrival; thus it can be either tight fitting or not when the pane is closed. Consequently the gasket provides air tightness, preventing insects, dirt, and coins placed on the change counter from entering the display unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages will become better apparent from the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a superstructure, according to invention, illustrated only by way of a non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a section of the present superstructure attached to a side front upright of a display unit;

FIG. 2 illustrates the same section of the superstructure as FIG. 1 with the curved pane lifted;

FIG. 3 depicts a section of the present superstructure attached to a side back upright of a display unit;

FIG. 4 illustrates the same section of the superstructure as FIG. 3 with the pane even more lifted;

FIGS. 5 and 6 depict front views of two superstructures using, respectively, a central upright and a side upright;

FIG. 7 illustrates, in more detail, a cross section of the hinge-bearing section bar;

FIG. 8 illustrates, in more detail, a cross section of the spacer section bar;

FIG. 9 depicts, in more detail, a section of the superstructure;

FIG. 10 depicts, in more detail, a cross section of the gripper;

FIG. 11 depicts, in more detail, a view of one end of the hinge;

FIG. 12 depicts a blow up of a prospective view of the hinge for curved panes;

FIG. 13 depicts a top view of the hinge for curved panes;

FIG. 14 depicts a top view of the connecting piece for the hinge for curved panes;

FIG. 15 depicts a top view of the hinge, showing the possibility for manoeuvre of the connecting piece;

FIGS. 16 and 17 depict a top view of two curved panes with different opening angles, and fixed to the present superstructure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following example of embodiment the present superstructure is used on a display unit with a glass pane 1 placed on the customer side.

The upright 2 is fixed to a spacer section bar 3 by means of pin-screw cluster where the pin 4 is inserted into a hole on the front upright 2 and the screws 5, having passed through the lower wall of the section bar 3, fit into the pin 4.

The spacer section bar 3, which has a box section, bears fins 3.1 on its lower side that lie parallel to the longitudinal axis of the section bar 3 and bound a bottom guide 3.2. The top end of the upright 2 slides into this guide. The section bar 3 bears fins 3.3 on its top side that lie parallel to the longitudinal axis of the section bar 3 and bound a top guide 3.4. The lower fins 3.1 are either present on both sides of the section bar 3 (see FIG. 5), or only along one side (see FIG. 6). In the first case, the section bar 3 is used for central uprights, and in the second, for side uprights, either on the left or on the right depending on which side the fin 3.1 lies. The lower guide 3.2 prevents the section bar 3 from rotating on the upright 2 and ensures the parts are correctly aligned.

The hinge-bearing section bar 6 is fixed above the section bar 3 by means of screws 7. The hinge-bearing section bar 6 bears a guide projection 6.1 on its lower side that fits into the top guide 3.4 of the spacer section bar 3. The top guide 3.4 guides the translation of the hinge-bearing section bar 6 with respects to the section bar 3, ensuring the two are correctly joined together. The two section bars 3 and 6 can thus be very precisely adjusted and the grippers 9 can be correctly aligned at sight. To allow for the precise adjustment of the section bars 3 and 6, screws 7 are inserted not into holes but into through slots situated in the area where the two section bars 3 and 6 join and fasten together.

The hinge 8, which is approximately semicircular, is hinged onto the section bar 6 by means of a pin 8.1. The gripper 9 is fixed to the hinge 8. The former, at its end that fixes onto the hinge 8, bears conical arms 9.1 that run parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gripper 9. The arms 9.1 will slide into conical guides 8.1 contained in the end of the hinge 8. The joining of the gripper 9 and the hinge 8 is adjusted by the force exerted by grains 10 that, thanks to the conical shape of the arms 9.1 and guides 8.1, work both vertically and laterally. This joining ensures that the parts are safely fastened, and, if need be, that one can slide the gripper 9, once the grains 10 have been loosened, to better position both the gripper 9 and the pane 1 that is fixed to it within the space available.

The gripper 9 also bears a groove 9.2, which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gripper 9 itself, situated on its arm that points towards the closing section bar 11. The end of a plastic gasket 12 fits into that groove 9.2. The gasket 12 bridges the gap between the gripper 9 and the closing section bar 11. The latter is fixed to the hinge-bearing section bar 6 and lies facing the gripper 9 when the pane 1 is closed.

One end of the piston 13 that helps lift the pane 1 is fixed to the hinge 8. The other end of the piston 13 is fixed onto the front upright 2 by means of a bracket 14 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). When using a back upright 2 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), the second end of the piston 13 is, however, attached directly to the back upright 2.

Where a spherical pane 1 is involved, hinges 15 (see FIGS. 12-17) are used; each hinge bears a body 15.1 and a connecting piece 15.2. The body 15.1 is approximately semicircular and bears an insert 15.3 into which the base of the connecting piece 15.2 fits. The connecting piece 15.2 is fixed to the body 15.1 by means of screws that fit into holes 15.4 and 15.5. The connecting piece 15.2 is composed of a plate; by means of screws, a crop of section bar containing the conical guides 15.6 that fit the conical arms 9.1 situated on the gripper 9, is fixed onto this plate. The body 15.1 is hinged to an adapting piece 15.7 by means of a pin 15.8 that passes through a hole 15.9. The adapting piece 15.7 is in turn fixed to the section bar 6.

Unlike the hinges 8 described above, the longitudinal axis of the conical guides in these hinges 15 is not orthogonal but is instead incident to the longitudinal axis of the hinge itself. The base of the connecting piece 15.2, thanks to minor adjustments, can be rotated with respects to the body 15.1. This means that those same hinges 15 may be used for different opening angles of panes 1 without interfering with the hinge-bearing section bar 6. For example, the panes I shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 have very different opening angles (the angle is more than halved when passing from FIG. 16 to FIG. 17). However, while these panes 1 share the same length of the circular arc, are fixed to the present superstructure using those same hinges 15, and by rotating the connecting elements 15.2 ever so slightly with respects to their respective bodies 15.1, one can obtain different opening angles for the panes 1, as illustrated in FIG. 15. For variations in length of the pane's circular arc that are above 5%, the body 15.1 must instead be replaced with another body containing an insert 15.3 of a different shape. 

1. A superstructure for the lifting of panes in display units containing a pane (1) situated on a customer side, which involves, for each upright (2), a spacer section bar (3), a hinge-bearing section bar (6), at least one hinge (8) that is approximately semicircular, at least one piston (13) that helps with the lifting of the pane (1), completed by a gripper (9) for supporting the pane (1), a closing section bar (11) fixed to the hinge-bearing section bar (6) and a gasket; the hinge-bearing section bar (6) being fixed above the section bar (3) by means of screws (7); each hinge (8) being hinged onto the section bar (6) by means of a pin (8.1); the upright (2), front or back, being fixed to the spacer section bar (3) by means of a pin-screws cluster, where the pin (4) is inserted into a hole in the upright (2) and the screws (5) pass through a lower wall of the section bar (3), into the pin (4); one end of the piston (13) being fixed to the hinge (8); an other end of the piston (13) being fixed onto a bracket (14) fixed to the upright (2) when a front upright is involved, or directly to the upright (2) in the case of a back upright; wherein the spacer section bar (3) bears bottom fins (3.1) on its lower side that run parallel to its longitudinal axis and bound a bottom guide (3.2), into which a top end of the upright (2) is inserted; the spacer section bar (3) bears top fins (3.3) on its top side that run parallel to its longitudinal axis and bound a top guide (3.4); the hinge-bearing section bar (6) contains a guide projection (6.1) in its lower area, which fits into the top guide (3.4) on the spacer section bar (3); the screws (7) that fix the hinge-bearing section bar (6) to the section bar (3) are inserted into through slots situated in an area where the two section bars (3, 6) join and fasten together; the hinge (8) bears conical guides (8.1) on its end that fixes to the gripper (9); the gripper (9) bears conical arms (9.1), which run parallel to its longitudinal axis, on its end that fixes to the hinge (8); the arms (9.1) fit into the guides (8.1) on the hinge (8) and the joining together of the two pieces is controlled by a force exerted by grains (10); the gripper (9) also bears a groove (9.2), which runs parallel to its longitudinal axis, on its arm that points toward the closing section bar (11); one end of a plastic gasket (12) fits into the groove (9.2), while the other end runs along the closing section bar (11) itself.
 2. A superstructure according to claim 1, wherein the bottom fins (3.1) on the spacer section bar (3) can be present either on both sides of the section bar (3), or only along one side, depending on whether the section bar (3) is being used for central or side uprights.
 3. A superstructure according to claim 2, wherein the bottom fins (3.1) are only present along a left or a right side of the spacer section bar (3), to be fixed to left or right side uprights.
 4. A superstructure according to claim 1, wherein where the superstructure involves spherical panes (1), hinges (15) are used, each hinge (15) being composed of an approximately semicircular body (15.1) and a connecting piece (15.2); the body (15.1) bearing an insert (15.3) into which a base of the connecting piece (15.2) fits; a connection of the body (15.1) to the connecting piece (15.2) being achieved by means of screws that are lodged into holes (15.4, 15.5) present on both of the body (15.1) and the connecting piece (15.2); conical guides (15.6) that fit the conical arms (9.1) of the gripper (9) being incorporated into the connecting piece (15.2); a longitudinal axis of each conical guide (15.6) being incident to a longitudinal axis of the body (15.1); the base of the connecting piece (15.2) being rotatable with respect to the body (15.1) so that the panes (1) can be fitted onto the same hinges (15) at different lengths of a circular arc without interfering with the hinge-bearing section bar (6).
 5. A superstructure according to claim 4, wherein where spherical panes (1) are used that involve a different length of the circular arc, the body (15.1) can be replaced without interfering with the hinge-bearing section bar (6).
 6. A superstructure according to claim 4, wherein the body (15.1) is hinged onto an adapting piece (15.7) by means of a pin (15.8) that passes through a hole (15.9); the adapting piece (15.7) being in turn fixed to the section bar (6).
 7. A superstructure according to claim 4, wherein the connecting piece (15.2) is made up of a plate onto which a crop of section bar containing conical guides (15.6) is fixed by means of screws. 